on the 27th ult., conjointly with Russia and Austria, and which had been purposely concealed from the British plenipotentiaries.

I doubt whether Hardenberg in all his diplomatic experience was ever before so taken to task by a colleague. The circumstances of the moment no doubt acted as a check upon him, but his temper, naturally so calm, could not quite unmoved withstand the shock of Sir Charles's impetuosity, and he responded with a good deal of asperity. Though such plain speaking is altogether out of rule in diplomatic intercourse, yet Hardenberg I must confess deserved it. There has been a great deal of underhand work going on in the negotiations of Prussia and Russia with Austria, while both powers were availing themselves of the supplies of money, ammunition, and clothing, furnished by Great Britain to get a decent army on foot, which they are now indebted to our victories for the chance of employing with success.

After dinner Rumbold arrived with all our belongings and just in time to dress for the ball at the saloon. The King was already there, and was as usual very gracious; saying many civil things in a very pleasant manner, and enquiring much after my brother and his wife. His Majesty looks wonderfully well, and young for his age. One would suppose that his head had lain as uneasily as any that ever wore a crown. But I fancy that his placid temperament and composure of mind, set him beyond the reach of those gnawing cares that early imprint

the seal of time upon the brow, and fret all happiness out of the lives of men less apathetically constituted.

16th. As I was going out yesterday to pay a visit to Count Goltz I was told that our whole party, military and civil, had been invited by a letter to Sir Charles to a dîner champêtre at a country-house about a German mile distant; that no refusals could be accepted, and that it was necessary to leave early, dinner being at two. Accordingly I gave up business and prepared for pleasure; and carriages and horses being assembled we mustered to the number of eighteen and set off on our expedition.

An hour's drive through some beautiful scenery brought us to the entrance gates of the grounds of a large old country-house, belonging to a M. de Deitmar. A numerous party was assembled to meet us, and one would have thought, from the enthusiastic greeting and warm welcome we received, that each individual was a bosom friend of these good people, instead of the whole of us being utter strangers to them. But we owed this reception, and the entertainment that followed, to the desire of our host-a patriotic Prussian-to show his appreciation of the services rendered by Great Britain to his country in her effort to shake off the yoke of Bonaparte.

We were introduced, collectively, to his friends and, individually, to his own family, consisting of his father, a very aged man, his wife, and three daughters -pretty German maidens fresh and fair, of from sixteen to twenty. This ceremony was extremely

amusing, though rather long; for our worthy host thought it necessary to make a brief complimentary speech as he mentioned what he believed to be the name of each of his new friends. This was especially the case when presenting les militaires to his blushing young damsels. The men of the sword, I perceived, were more esteemed by him than those of the pen. By way of finale, two youths of about twelve and thirteen were brought forward; they were his sons, and he regretted, he said, that they were not of an age to join in the work of subduing the despoiler of Germany. They were two nice boys, but shrank back rather abashed. Being now, as M. de Deitmar declared, well acquainted with each other and a mere family party, he invited us to take our places at his hospitable board, which with little ceremony we did; and it was my good fortune to have for my neighbours two very pleasant ladies— one of them particularly lively and chatty, rather young, and the wife of a Prussian officer.

Good fare in superabundance was provided; in fact, there was a grand German dinner, excellent wines, toasts, and speeches patriotic, both German and English, and the whole brought to a close in about two hours and a half. We afterwards strolled about the grounds in small parties, pretty well as chance had brought us acquainted by near neighbourhood at dinner, and as the sun went down we reassembled, for a dance and a waltz on the green sward. At half-past eight, we took leave of our hospitable entertainer and his friends, with mutual

expressions of friendship and good-will, and with assurances-which, on my own part, and I believe generally, were perfectly sincere that we were indebted to them for the pleasantest day we had spent since we came on the Continent, and that we should be rejoiced if it should be our good fortune, when the wars were over, to meet again and celebrate our victories with them.

On our return, Rumbold and some two or three others of the party proposed that we should end the day's amusements by looking in at the saloon before the dancing was over. Being pretty well tired, I was about to declare my preference for taking advantage of an unusual opportunity of getting a long night, when my servant brought in a note informing me that the Duke of Cumberland had arrived, and that I was to sup with him and Sir Charles. This unexpected and, under the circunstances, unwelcome honour kept me up rather late.

This morning I was up early to see the public baths where men and women bathe together. A novel sight, truly, and also a most disgusting one. After breakfast Sir Charles set off for Prague, and I had an interview with the Chancellor for the purpose of paying him another 100,000l.—a part of the subsidy. Meeting Count Goltz on my way thither he begged me to dine with him on my return. We had then, being tête à tête, a long and interesting conversation on the present position of affairs. He told me that when Metternich's last Note containing the Austrian Declaration was received by Caulain

court and the Comte de Narbonne, they stated that they were wholly unprepared for such an event; they had no instructions from Bonaparte to meet such an issue, and requested permission not to make use of their passports till they should hear further from their Court. This request was acceded to. It is supposed that, without answering Metternich's Note, other propositions will be made; and the Empress Maria Louisa has so urged upon her father her wish for peace that, if Bonaparte would yield at all, Goltz firmly believes means would still be found to bring it about. At Mayence, the Empress, with many tears, entreated Bonaparte "for her sake, for their child's sake, and" she added, "for the welfare of France, to make peace on any terms." He answered that he was "ready and willing to make peace, but not on dishonourable terms-to resign his conquests at the demand of Metternich. They could be had only as they had been gained-by force of arms. Pourquoi m'as tu appris qu'il y a quelque chose que je puis te réfuser?" he said, turning to the Empress and embracing her tenderly.

Goltz had just heard that Narbonne left Prague on the 14th, and that Caulaincourt, in consequence of the expected arrival of the Emperor Alexander and the King, had withdrawn to a country house in the outskirts of the town.

General Moreau was at Glatz last night on his way to Prague. It is reported that the whole army of Barclay de Tolli will be placed under the command of Prince Schwartzenberg, and that Moreau